I'm beginning to catch on to the criticism of the BR food scene

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Reading this board, the same names are in just about every thread

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Because there are plenty of solid restaurants in BR, but there are several that excel across all price points. Some are simply so good, that there's no debate (Chelsea's).

In what way is BR limited?

What kind of food are you missing out on?

We have just about every kind of food (BBQ is tough, but Smokin' Aces is pretty good) one could want available at least SOMEWHERE. What more do you want?

Every time I drive down Gvt, I see a line in front of Smokin Aces. I've been meaning to try it, but just haven't gotten around to it (the fact that I'm typically wearing a suit while driving down Gvt doesn't help ). My favorite BBQ in BR is Deep South BBQ, but that requires quite the trek into less than ideal territory

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What kind of food are you missing out on?

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It's not really that I'm missing out. I only get there a few times a year and I hit my favorites for the most part.

I'm just observing based on this board.

It just seems that the same few restaurants are named in just about any request.

Heck, Ruths' Chris and Sullivans are named all the time. We have a Ruths in Savannah and it would never cross my mind to recommend it.

I'm not saying I'm right. Again, just observing and agreeing with those who say this.

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I don't see why food options would be an issue.

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If you dine out even somewhat frequently, you ran out of new places to try ages ago.

Hell, food has been an interest of mine for only a few years and I'm young, and I still have already been everywhere in BR that I'd want to go.

Combine that with the fact that restaurants here don't change. Take Coquette in New Orleans, for example. Different menu every day. Or even somewhere that just changes with the seasons.
We don't have that. The menu is the menu. Maybe a few places with decent specials, but what you had a restaurant a year ago is likely what you'll see if you walk in today.

You're right.. there are PLENTY of good places. If someone was visiting, I could map out a fantastic weekend itinerary for them. But as a resident who dines out about least twice a week, I've run out of anything new.

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It just seems that the same few restaurants are named in just about any request.

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Exactly.

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Heck, Ruths' Chris and Sullivans are named all the time. We have a Ruths in Savannah and it would never cross my mind to recommend it.

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Well, no one here likes Sullivan's (with good reason), but I know what you mean.

It really dawned on me when I saw that anniversary thread yesterday. I questioned where I'd want to celebrate a very special occasion in BR, and nothing really came to mind. Sure, a nice dinner at Jubans or Galatoire's or Mansur's is great. Obviously, that's not my "average" meal, so it's a treat. But man.. if you've been there/done that a couple times, you know you're walking in to the same thing. It doesn't feel special.

Granted, this isn't necessarily a knock on BR. We don't really have the means to support a thriving food scene. Look at how many places open and close. I understand completely WHY we don't have more of what I'd want, but I am still allowed to be unhappy about it

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And the list of recommendations seems short for a city of that size.

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Well, keep in mind that Baton Rouge's "size" when it comes to this scene is roughly half of what the true population is.

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Well, keep in mind that Baton Rouge's "size" when it comes to this scene is roughly half of what the true population is.

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This, plus, most people in this "scene" refuse to frequent the casual establishments of that other "half".

Agree wholeheartedly--food scene is light years better than it was in the mid 90s, but it's still not exactly cutting edge for a city its size that contains a sizeable university. No real diversity of ethnic food, especially near campus...no interesting independent bakeries, no great bread (gotta cross the river to Forte Grove)....no hardcore vegetarian places.

You'd think LSU's myriad ag ventures might include supporting food start ups. Alas, no food incubator in BR (I'd love to be wrong about that), no food truck pod/parking lot, no real city support for food entrepreneurs.

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For sure.

Also, people in BR separate out.

There are lots of people who don't consider the other side of town to be Baton Rouge. A restaurant downtown, for example, could be fantastic. But most people aren't going to leave their areas of town on a weeknight to go there. So they're relying on neighborhood business, which just isn't much.

A lot of "urban" type cities have neighborhood bars and restaurants that thrive heavily due to proximity.

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This is very true. People out at Shenandoah don't go to Mid-City, Perkins Overpass, or Downtown. People in the Garden District don't eat at Le Creole on Highland near I-10. People out near Jefferson and Bluebonnet don't eat at Delpit's or Tony's Seafood. Those in Central and Zachary aren't eating out near Bocage.

If one is willing to go the extra mile (so to speak), the options really are there. I don't go out to eat at real restaurants twice a weak, so my list of restaurants to try is still very long.